Implant collar and post system

ABSTRACT

Abutment posts, gingival collars, and universal adaptors along with their fixation screws that are used for insertion into dental implants are revealed. The adaptor is universal in that it matches to many different shaped, sized, and styled implants, and standardizes their restoration with uniform gingival collars and abutment posts. A gingival collar of varying sizes, which extends from the top of the flange of the adaptor to the height of the gingival tissue, is used to bring the restoration of the implant into the oral cavity. A post becomes connected to the gingival collar to create a restoration for the placement of a crown or coping over the implant. The top of the adaptor has a projection which is indexed and the top of the gingival collar is also indexed. This indexing allows specific angle correction in the horizontal plane by the counter rotation of the gingival collar and the post head. The post head, itself, comes in a variety of angles and shapes to make vertical angle correction to compensate for angled implant placement. The combination of horizontal correction from the counter rotations of the gingival collar and the post head, along with the vertical angle correction of the post, allows for overall precise angle correction of implant placement.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation-In-Part of my prior copendingapplication Ser. No. 07/548,250, filed Jul. 5, 1990 now U.S. Pat. No.5,135,395 and entitled "IMPLANT COLLAR AND POST SYSTEM" as well as myprior co-pending application, Ser. No. 07/729,170 filed Jul. 12, 1991.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the prosthodontic restoration of previouslyplaced dental implants whereby a fixture, typically titanium, issurgically implanted in the edentulous area of the alveolar bone as asubstitute for a missing natural tooth root.

The use of dental implants has proceeded rapidly since their commercialintroduction to the dental community. Initial attention of implantrestoration of the mouth was focused on the achieving of a soundintegration of the titanium fixtures to the surrounding bone. Successwas determined by the degree of this osseointegration. As the field grewin size and scope, a variety of sizes and configurations of implantsbecame available to the dental practitioners. However, in the rush toprovide biocompatibie fixtures in the mouth, inadequate attention waspaid to the needs of the restorative dentist in his role of providingrestorations that are esthetic and functional over implants that weremore frequently placed at an angle in that they would not be parallel toother implants or natural teeth. As a result, it was left to therestorative dentist to provide a great deal of ingenuity, while enduringtime-consuming and expensive procedures in trying to make these implantsserviceable and esthetic.

OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel andimproved collar and post system and a method of restoration for dentalimplants. Included herein are the methods and apparatus for restoringdental implants in a manner which overcomes the above noted problems.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such methods andapparatus which are applicable to many different styles, types, shapes,and sizes of implants including those presently used in restorativedentistry.

Another object of the present invention is to successfully address thoseproblems of providing esthetic and functional restorations overpreviously placed angulated or malpositioned implant fixtures.

A further object of the present invention is to provide the ability torestore implants previously placed at angles up to the sixty (60°)degrees off of the vertical.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a system thatorganizes the method by which previously placed implants are restored.The invention supplies methods and apparatus for simplifying thechairside (dentist) and laboratory (technician) techniques necessary tocreate high quality restorations, while compensating for angulations.

SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In the conventional restoration of implants, sequentially, at theinitial surgical visit, the gum tissue is reflected to expose theunderlying bone, and a titanium implant fixture is screwed or pressfitted into the alveolar bone. Several months later, the gum tissue isopened to expose the implant to the oral environment. At that time andin accordance with the present invention, a universal adaptor is chosenand inserted to match the implant in place and secured with an anchorscrew; a gingival collar of a height to correspond to the depth of thegum tissue is inserted; a transfer post is placed into the collar; andthe post and collar are affixed to each other and to the universaladaptor with a fastener, preferrably a fixation screw. Impressions andbite registrations are taken and sent to a dental laboratory forfabrication of custom abutment heads and overlying crown restorations toideal esthetic and functional parameters.

The laboratory technician pours a model around the impression, includinga soft material around the replicas of the implants and their universaladaptors and gingival collars to represent the gingiva or gum tissue.Once he has the mounted models, the technician surveys the implants tothe other teeth in the mouth and/or to other implants, so that all ofthe abutments are parallel to each other; so that they will providecrowns of natural contour and shape; and so that they will allow a goodfunctional occlusion or bite. The correct gingival collar is chosen in athermoplastic material, and inserted over the analog of the Universaladaptor. Depending upon the degree of angulation of the implant, thetechnician will choose the correct thermoplastic abutment head tocompensate for this angulation and allow "uprighting" of the implant.For small angulations, a precast gingival collar and abutment post maybe chosen. For multiple implant abutments, once all of the abutmentheads have been affixed to their analogs, the technician does the final"tooth preparation" according to accepted techniques on each post andbonds the thermoplastic collar and abutment head to each other. Aprecision abutment head to receive the crown or coping is now fabricatedby casting the thermoplastic material into gold or other metal. This isdone by encompassing it in a special stone with a sprue, and by thenburning it out, leaving a space in the stone. The correct gold alloy orother metal is chosen, melted, and driven into the newly created hole. Aprecision cast abutment post has been created.

Various crowns are created to fit over the abutment posts, dependingupon the various prosthetic considerations.

The restorative dentist removes the special healing cap or covering overthe implants and their attached universal adaptors, and inserts theimplant abutment, which will be in one piece, if it has been cast intogold or will be in one or two pieces if a precast titanium post is used(for smaller angulations). The post will fit over the previously placeduniversal adaptor that has been affixed to the implant by an anchoringscrew which matches the threads of that particular implant and whichreceives the fixation screw. The combined abutment head and collar isaffixed to the adaptor with a fixation screw, and the overlying crown isconnected to the abutment head by either cementing it to it or byscrewing one to the other.

DRAWINGS

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1A is an axially exploded view of an implant in place, a type ofuniversal adaptor and its fixation screw, a gingival collar, an abutmentpost, and a fixation screw in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention illustrating a straight-up or vertical implant;

FIG. 1B is a side elevational view of the assembled parts of FIG. 1Aincluding a crown (final restoration);

FIG. 2A is a view generally similar to FIG. 1A except that itincorporates a modified post head to accommodate the angulation of theimplant;

FIG. 2B is a side elevational view of the assembled parts of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3A is a view generally similar to FIG. 2A except that itincorporates a modified post head to accommodate the further angulationof the implant;

FIG. 3B is a side elevational view of the assembled parts of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4A is another embodiment of the invention at a more severeangulation. With precise fabrication by the laboratory technician, theimplant angulation can be corrected by as much as 60°;

FIG. 4B is a side elevational view of the assembled parts of FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5A is an exploded view of another embodiment of the invention,showing restoration of an implant when it has been incorrectly placed ina vertical plane in space; the restoration compensates for thepositioning of the previously placed implant;

FIG. 5B is a side elevational view of the assembled parts of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6A is an enlarged, exploded, elevational view generally similar toFIG. 1A, but showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6B is a side elevational view of the assembled parts of FIG. 6A;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged elevational view of a nonangulated post includedin the system of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7, but showing another embodiment of anonangulated post;

FIG. 9A is a view generally similar to FIG. 7 but showing an embodimentof an angulated post in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9B is a side elevational view of FIG. 9A;

FIG. 10A is a view generally similar to FIG. 7 but showing an embodimentof an angulated post in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 10B is a side elevational view of FIG. 10A;

FIG. 11A is a view generally similar to FIG. 7 but showing an embodimentof an angulated post in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 11B is a side elevational view of FIG. 11A;

FIG. 12A is a view generally similar to FIG. 7 but showing an embodimentof an angulated post in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 12B is a side elevational view of FIG. 12A;

FIG. 13A is a view generally similar to FIG. 7 but showing an embodimentof an angulated post in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 13B is a side elevational view of FIG. 13A;

FIG. 14A is a view generally similar to FIG. 7 but showing an embodimentof an angulated post in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 14B is a side elevational view of FIG. 14A;

FIG. 15A is a view generally similar to FIG. 7 but showing an embodimentof an offset post in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 15B is a side elevational view of FIG. 15A;

FIG. 16 is a side elevational view showing the system of the presentinvention assembled in the mouth ready for bridge insertion, aftercompensating for implant angulation and position;

FIGS. 17A through 17E show an exploded view of a transfer system inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 18A is another embodiment of the universal adaptor;

FIG. 18B is another embodiment of the universal adaptor;

FIG. 18C is another embodiment of the universal adaptor;

FIG. 19A is a perspective view of a post and collar system constitutinga preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19B is an exploded view of the system shown in FIG. 19A;

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of another preferred embodiment of apost and collar system in accordance with the present invention andincluding an angulated post head and two screws for securing theassembly to an implant;

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of another system embodying thepresent invention and including a combined post and collar and anadditional connecting member and a third fixation screw;

FIG. 22 is an elevational view of a system similar to that of FIG. 21but with an angulated combined post and collar abutment;

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of an overdenture assembly secured toimplants with a post and collar system of the present invention.

FIGS. 24 and 25 are other embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings in detail, in FIG. 1A, the implant (10),itself is represented as it exists after placement in the bone. In thisexample, it has an internal bevel, a threaded portion (12) to receive afixation screw (in this case the anchor screw thread), and a hexagonportion (14) which receives the hexagon stem of the universal adaptor.In another embodiment the hexagon receptor may be replaced by aninternal bevel (FIG. 6A, 21), cylinder, etc. depending upon the internalconfiguration of the implant chosen by the manufacturer. The universaladaptor (20) has at one end an external hexagon stem or post (22) to fitinside the hexagon of the implant. This configuration may be replaced byother means of varying dimensions and of such a nature as to fit intoseveral different types of manufactured implants with various dimensionsand internal thread diameters. The post (22) fits into the receptor (14)in the head of the implant. It is connected to the implant by an anchorscrew (21), which extends through the hexagon external post at the openend. In another, preferred embodiment to be discussed later, (FIG. 6A),the stem (66) of the anchor screw (60) extends beyond the octagon postat the free end. The anchor screw in that embodiment has an internalthread to receive the fixation screw. A small flange (24) tapers fromthe dimension of the individual implants (10) to a standardized size atits free end. An external post, octagon in shape (26), extends from theflange toward the free end. Any external posts (22 and 26) at the openand free ends have an internal opening to receive the anchoring screw(21). A gingival collar (30) of varying lengths to extend from the topof the flange to the height of the gingival tissue is used to extend therestoration of the implant into the oral cavity. It tapers from the openend (34) at the flange of the universal adaptor to a larger standardizedsize in order to more naturally represent the size and shape of anatural tooth root at the free end (36). It has an internal openingextending from the open end at the adaptor to the free end (36) of anoctagon shape to receive the octagon posts of the "adaptor" (26) and theabutment post (42). In some instances, the abutment post has at one endan external octagon post (40) to be inserted into the octagon receptacleof the gingival collar. It has at its free end a socket to receive thefixation screw (50). The fixation screw, itself, has an internal hexhole which extends down the shank (54) to allow sizing of the screw bythe laboratory technician without the need to cut a new slot for a screwdriver. Once cut down, there is still a position for insertion of a hextool to match. The shank (53) and the threads (52) match thecorresponding parts of the octagon stud of the universal adaptor. FIG.1B is a composite of the connection of the implant, anchor screw anduniversal adaptor, the gingival collar, and the abutment post and finalcrown (1).

The post is preferably made from a thermoplastic material to allowprecision refining of the shape and comes in a variety of angulations(FIG. 2A,140; FIG. 3A,240; FIG. 3A, 340; FIG. 4A, 440) to compensate foran otherwise angulated implant that is not parallel to other teeth orimplants. In FIG. 2A the abutment post is different as it corrects foran angulation of 15°, but all of the other parts are the same. The posthas been reshaped to straighten-up the tooth preparation. During theset-up of the case, the laboratory technician will choose the post ofthe correct angulation to straighten up the tooth preparation toparallel it to other implants or teeth, and then will rotate it on theoctagon (or the universal adaptor on the hexagon) to achieve the"optimum" position for the post. He then prepares the final toothpreparation. FIG. 2B is a composite drawing of the parts of FIG. 2A.FIG. 3A and 3B show the same relationships as FIG. 2A and 2B, exceptthat the angulation of the post is 30° instead of 15°. The abutment post(240) has a hole for the fielation screw (244) and a separate hole (246)to receive a tube and screw appliance for fixation of the final crown byscrewing it into place instead of cementing it, as the dentist chooses.In the preferred embodiment, the abutment head has a taper of no morethan 10° to allow frictional retention of the crown. FIG. 4A and 4B showthe same relationships as FIG. 3A and 3B. It also has a separate tubeand screw receptacle (346). The dentist has the option to choose betweencementing the crown or screwing it down.

FIG. 5A and 5B show a special post for correction of implant placementwhen it is at a reasonable angulation, but is placed too far mesially,distally, bucally, or lingually relative to other teeth in the arch. Inaddition, it corrects for placement of an implant whose restorationwould impinge upon a solder joint of a bridge.

FIG. 6A and 6B represent the preferred embodiment of the invention,except for the implant connection of the universal adaptor, which variesaccording to the implant to which it is connecting and except for thepost head itself which varies according to angulation. In this examplethe implant (10 ), itself, is represented as it would exist afterplacement in the bone, and after osseointegration. It has an internalthreaded portion (12) to receive some form of fixation screw for aprosthesis, in this case, the anchor screw thread (62). It usually has acylindrical chamber (15) to receive the shank (61) of the anchor screwwhich is fabricated to match it. In this example, the implant has aninternal bevel (13) which is matched to the tapered cylinder (21) belowthe flange (24) of the universal (octa-hex) adaptor. The Octa-HexTMadaptor, in this example, has the tapered cylinder (21) which fitsinside the implant (13). There are many embodiments below the flange ofthe adaptor (24). It has a flange (24), which at its open end is thesame size as the head of the implant and which tapers out to a greaterdimension at its incisal or free end to a standard size for the system.It has a external stud of an octagon shape which allows a preciseinterdigitation along with the ability to rotate the parts above it in45° increments. Because of its length, the octagon stud providesstrength and resistance to fracture to the fixation screw. The anchorscrew (60) threads into the implant (12) while its flange at the freeend (66) tightens the universal adaptor on to the implant head. Thegingival collar (30) comes in varying lengths to extend from the top ofthe flange (24) of the universal adaptor to the height of the gingivaltissue and extends the restoration of the implant into the oral cavity.It tapers from the open end (34) at the flange to a larger standardizedsize in order to more naturally represent the size and shape of anatural tooth root at the free end (36). It has an internal opening atthe open end (38) to receive the octagon stud of the universal adaptor,and has an internal cylindrical passage (32) to allow the fixation screwto pass through into the anchor screw. The gingival collar has aninternal shoulder (37), which engages the post and collar combination(40 plus 30) into place, once their individual thermoplastic parts (30and 40) are connected by the technician by bonding agent prior tocasting into gold or other metal. They are now effectively one piece tobe affixed to the anchor screw by the fixation screw as it engages theinternal shoulder (37) while the threads combine. The gingival collaralso has an octagon receptacle (39) to receive the octagon stud (42) ofthe post head. This octagon combination allows for rotation of the posthead in the horizontal plane for a more precise placement of the postprior to connection to the gingival collar. The post head has aninternal cylindrical passage (44 ) to receive the fixation screw (50 ).The fixation screw, itself, has an internal hex hole which extends downthe shank (54) to allow sizing of the screw by the laboratory technicianwithout the need to cut a new slot for a screw driver. Once cut down,there is still a position for insertion of a hex tool to match. Thethreads (52) engage the internal threads (64) of the anchor screw, whilethe head of the screw engages the internal flange (37) of thepost/collar.

Although not shown in FIG. 6A, post head (40) may be secured to thecollar (30) by a screw like screw 50 which will also serve to secure thecollar to the adaptor.

There are many variations of the post head, some of which are presentedhere. The tooth abutments, themselves, are larger in size than mostpresently available in order to conform, more naturally, to the size ofthe roots and crowns of natural teeth. They sit on the gingival collarwhich is an inverted frustoconical shape and tapers-out up to the freeend in the same manner as the natural root tapers-out from the apex ofthe root until it reaches the crown portion of the tooth. Anotherpurpose of all of the post heads is to reangulate an otherwisemalpositioned implant with respect to ideal placement in a dental arch;to provide a positive seat of the final crown with a circumferentialchamfer or other means; and to prevent rotation of the final crownotherwise caused by a tapered cylinder as the tooth preparation which issometimes presently used.

FIG. 7 shows the basic embodiment of the post head, when the implant isperfectly placed in the mouth. Shown here is a chamfer preparation,which is one of many types of preparation available for theseinventions. It has an external octagon stud (42) which interconnectswith the octagon receptacle of the gingival collar. The fixation screw(50) passes through the channel (44) to the internal threads of theanchor screw. In another embodiment (not shown), the post head can beseparately secured which would have an internal shoulder in the head andengage the anchor screw.

Another embodiment of the post head, the low profile head, is shown inFIG. 8. It has an internal octagon (44) to interdigitate with theoctagon stud of the universal adaptor. The gingival collar is eliminatedin order to have a short abutment height when the distance between theupper and lower jaws is reduced.

FIG. 9A and 9B show two views of an anterior abutment preparation(incisor or canine) of a 15° angulated abutment. It uses the samefixation screw, which exits from the channel (144) on the angulatedsurface. For those dentists that wish to have a screw down crown, aseparate opening is provided on the lingual surface for esthetics (146)to place a tube and screw. The final crown can also be cemented intoplace, without the need for the tube and screw being used.

FIG. 10A and 10B is another embodiment of the 150 angulated abutmentshowing the restoration of the posterior (molar and premolar) implant.It also has a provision for a separate tube and screw (146) for fixationof the final crown, which can also be cemented.

FIG. 11A and 11B are similar to FIG. 10A and 10B, but at a 30°angulation.

FIG. 12A and 12B are similar to FIG. 9A and 9B, but at a 30° angulation.

FIG. 13A and 13B are similar to FIG. 9A and 9B, but at a 45° angulation.

FIG. 14A and 14B are similar to FIG. 10A and 10B, but at a 45°angulation.

This invention is not limited to the angulations outlined above forthese post heads, but, rather, the posts can be fabricated in any numberof angulations to compensate from 0° to 45° (to 60° with preparation ofthe post by the laboratory technician).

FIG. 15A and FIG. 15B is one embodiment of the vertical offset post,which changes the restoration of an implant in the vertical dimension ina specified measurement. The post head has a special design to allow therelative shifting of the position of the final crown, and has theavailability of a opening for a tube an screw as described above.

FIG. 16 is a composite drawing of and angulated and misplaced implanthaving their relative positions corrected by corrective post heads ofthe Octa-HexTM system: the 15° post head and the vertical offset posthead.

FIGS. 17A,B,C,D,E shows the Octa-HexTM Transfer System parts. After theimplants are exposed (4-6 months after insertion), the titaniumuniversal adaptor (20, FIG. 1) is inserted and affixed by anchor screw(560). The brass gingival collar (530) and transfer post head (540) areconnected to the adaptor (520), and an acrylic transfer cap (570) isplaced over the top to cover the hex opening at the top of the screw andto provide a positive seat in the impression. After the impression istaken, the brass analogs are disconnected and removed from the mouth,but the acrylic cap (520) remains in the impression.

FIG. 17A shows the brass or other metal analog of the universal adaptor(520) which is connected to a brass or other metal analog of the implantbeing restored (not shown) via the titanium or Other metal anchor screw(560). The gingival collar (530) is connected along with the transferpost head (540) via a titanium or other metal fixation screw (550). Thecompletely assembled parts are inserted into the impression, and willsnap into the acrylic cap (570) that was retained in the impression whenit was removed from the patient's mouth. A Coe-SoftTM or equivalent softmaterial is flowed around the brass analogs, and a dental stone ispoured over that. A complete replica of the implants and the gum tissuearound them is now ready for the technician to choose the correct posts;custom prepare them, if necessary,; cast them; and fabricate the finalcrowns.

This invention is not limited to a two piece collar and post system,which, in another embodiment (not shown), can be together combined intoa one piece unit.

FIG. 17B and C show two different length screws to match, increasinglylong gingival collars.

FIG. 17D and E show two different sized gingival collars. There can bemany sizes of gingival collars and fixation screws.

FIG. 18A is another embodiment of a universal adaptor (160) connectedwith an anchor screw, having a shank (61) and about to be placed into animplant. The anchor screw has threads (62) that are of such a nature asto match the thread characteristics of the designated implant as well asa shaft (61) to match. The anchor screw has internal threads (64) toreceive the fixation screw and an external flange (66) to anchor theuniversal adaptor on to the implant while the screw is being threadedinto the implant.

FIG. 18B is another embodiment similar to FIG. 18A except that theexternal thread of the anchor screw (161) matches another type ofimplant.

FIG. 18C is similar to FIG. 18A except that it has an internal hexagon(122) to match the designated implant's external hexagon.

It will thus be seen that the invention will allow the restorativedentist and the laboratory technician to provide the most accuraterelationship esthetically (the look) and functionally (the bite) bycompensating for the untoward angulations and positions which resultfrom the surgical placement of the various titanium implants. At thesame time, the invention will provide a uniformity in delivering thisservice, regardless of the type of implant which has been inserted intothe edentulous alveolar bone by the surgeon. The same restorativedentist can treat his patients with several different surgeons, and, atthe same time, provide each patient with equivalent restorative designs.The system provides precision, versatility, uniformity, and efficiencyof delivery.

Referring now to FIGS. 19A and B, another system embodying the inventionis shown as including an adaptor 420 having a hexagon shaped base 422adapted to fit in a similarly shaped recess of an implant (not shown).The adaptor 420 has shoulder 424 for receiving a collar 430. The latterhas an internal octagon shaped passage at its lower end for receiving anoctagon stud 426 projecting from the shoulder 424 of the adaptor 420. Inaddition, the collar 430 has an external surface 438 shaped as a hexagonadapted to the receive a similarly shaped hexagon surface 442 formedinternally at the lower end of the post head 440. The post head ofcourse fits on the shoulder 432 of the collar. The upper end of thecollar has a cylindrical portion 439 for receiving the fixation screw.

With this embodiment the collar 430 can be adjusted in one directionrelative to the adaptor 420 and independently of the implant andregardless of the implant's indexing. Additionally, the post head 440can be adjusted in a direction opposite to the adjustment direction ofthe collar 430 to provide minimum increments of adjustment of 15°degrees. In one method of assembly after effecting the horizontal and/orvertical angulation corrections, the plastic post head and collar arebonded together. In other embodiments they can be mechanicallyconnected. After such connection the fixation screw anchors the combinedpost and collar to the adaptor via the anchor screw 600 as shown in theembodiment of FIG. 20. In this embodiment the adaptor 601 has aninternal hexagon passage 602 to fit on a hexagon projection on theimplant (not shown). The adaptor 601 is secured to the implant by screw603 which has a shoulder that engages a shoulder 604 on the adaptor.Screw 600 is secured in screw 603 as shown in FIG. 20 to secure thecombined post 605 and collar 606 to the adaptor 601.

Other different polyhedron combinations may be used instead of thespecific octagon - hexagon combination described and shown in FIGS. 19Aand 19B to give different minimum or maximum increment adjustments.Indeed other types of shapes may be employed. Also, it is possible touse a cylindrical surface instead of the hexagon surface 438 and acorresponding cylindrical female surface instead of the surface 442 inthe post 440 (FIG. 19B). This would provide an infinite number ofangulation correction - possibilities in the horizontal plane.

Referring now to FIG. 21, another system embodying the invention isshown as including an adaptor 801 which has an external hexagonalconnector stem 822 to fit on to an internal receptacle of an implant802. The adaptor is affixed to the implant fixture by a fixation screw803 which engages a shoulder 824 of the adaptor. An abutment post andcollar combined into one piece 806 is affixed to the screw of firstmeans 803 by a screw of second means 800 thereby connecting it to theadaptor. Screw 800 engages a shoulder 825 on the combined post andcollar 806. A screw of third means 808 affixes a connecting member shownas a cylinder 807 in the specific embodiment or object of other shape tothe abutment post 806. The combined post and collar may be made of othermaterials such as premade gold alloy, titanium, titanium alloy, ceramicor other suitable restorative material.

Referring now to FIG. 22, another system embodying the invention isshown with an abutment piece 905 such as shown in FIG. 21 at an angle tothe vertical plane. It has a tapered section at the top 906 to receivethe cylinder 807 shown in FIG. 21 and an internal threaded portion 907to receive a fixation screw 808 of third means shown in FIG. 21. Theadaptor is shown at 901 and is secured by a first screw not shown to theimplant 902. A second screw not shown secures the abutment 905 to theadaptor 901.

Referring now to FIG. 23, an overdenture assembly may be advantageouslysecured to implants 802 utilizing a post and collar system of thepresent invention. The assembly includes an overdenture 831 having teeth832 for securement to an overdenture bar 830. Any suitable means such asclips 833 may be utilized to fix the overdenture 833 to the bar 830. Theoverdenture bar 830 in turn is secured to the implants 802 by means ofthe post and collar system of the present invention. In the specificembodiment shown, two systems are employed at opposite ends of the bar830, each including a sleeve 807, a combined post and collar abutment806 and an adaptor 801 such as described above and shown in FIG. 21. Thesystem of the present invention may of course, be utilized to secureother types of restorative members to implants of various types.

Referring now to FIG. 24, another embodiment of the present invention isshown as including a post 840 dimensioned and shaped to receive a crownor coping (not shown). Post 840 is mounted on an adaptor 841 having anexternal annular shoulder 849 for receiving post 840 at the gum line gas shown. Below shoulder 849 the adaptor tapers downwardly and inwardlyat 849a to a base portion 852 which fits into a similarly shaped passageportion in the implant. The mouth of the implant has an invertedfrustoconical recess 842a for receiving the tapered surface 849a of theadaptor. Adaptor 841 is secured in implant 842 by a screw 843 havingexternal threads engaged in complementary threads formed in the implant.Screw 843 has an external shoulder 844 engaged on a shoulder of theadaptor 841 shown as the end 845 of the adaptor, to secure the adaptorin the implant. Screw 843 has an internal slot or recess for receiving atool or screw driver for fastening screw 843 into the implant 842. Screw843 has internal threads 846 for receiving a second screw 847 whichsecures the post 840 on the adaptor 841. The securement is achieved by ashoulder 848 on the screw 847 which shoulder engages an internalshoulder 850 in the post 840. The post 840 has a through passage 851 forreceiving the adaptor and screws 843 and 847.

In the embodiment of FIG. 24 the external surface of the adaptor 841 hasa polygonal shape, preferably an octagon, for receiving a similarlyshaped internal surface at 851 of the post such that the post andadaptor may be angularly adjusted in increments. Of course otherpolygonal shapes or even cylindrical shapes may be employed instead inother embodiments. Angular adjustment of the adaptor relative to implant842, in the embodiment of FIG. 24, is achieved by a hexagon-shaped outersurface at the lower end or base portion 852 thereof which surface fitsinto a similarly shaped surface in the passage of the implant. In otherembodiments such as FIG. 25 wherein the implant 855 has a projectinghexagonal head 856, the lower end 857 of the adaptor 858 has an internalreceptacle 857 having a hexagon shape for receiving the hexagon head 856of the implant 855. The embodiments of FIGS. 24 and 25 may be used insituations where insufficient space exists above the implant in apatient's mount to receive a collar as well as an adaptor as in severalof the embodiments described above.

Although several of the embodiments of the universal adaptor-anchorscrew system have been shown and described above. There are as manyembodiments as there are different types of implants to restore,especially external hexagons to match the more prevalent internalhexagons of the implants to be restored. Therefore, the scope of thepresent invention is not limited to the specific embodiments shown, but,rather, is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. An assembly for use in prosthetic implant restorations indentistry including an implant having an internal implant passage, theassembly comprising in combination: an adaptor chosen to be compatibleto and receivable on an associated implant and having a first portionadapted to extend above an implant when in use, an abutment postdimensioned to receive a crown or coping and having a passage thereinand being mounted on the first portion of the adaptor, said adaptorhaving an axial through passage in register with the passage in theabutment post and extending through opposite ends thereof, said adaptorhaving an internal shoulder surrounding the through passage in theadaptor, first means for adjusting the relative angular positions of thepost and adaptor to compensate for angulated implants, second meansincluding a screw member received in the axial passage of said adaptorand engaged on said internal shoulder for securing the adaptor to anassociated implant when mounted on an implant in use, said screw memberbeing a piece separate from said abutment post and having internalthreads, and third means including a screw receivable through thepassage in the post and engaged in said internal threads of the screwmember for securing the post to said adaptor.
 2. The assembly defined inclaim 1 including second means for adjusting the relative angularpositions of the adaptor and the implant and wherein said means foradjusting the relative angular positions of the adaptor and implant andthe post and adaptor provide different increments of angular adjustment.3. The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein said adaptor has a flangeprojecting radially outwardly intermediate the ends thereof, said flangehaving an inverted frusto-conical shape.
 4. For use in securing anabutment post to a dental implant, an assembly including in combination:an adaptor constituting a piece separate from an abutment post andimplant and adapted to be adjustable relative thereto, said adaptorincluding a rigid body receivable on an associated implant and having aninternal shoulder for receiving a fastener for releasably securing thebody on an implant, said body having an axially extending throughpassage with said internal shoulder surrounding said passage, a firstscrew received in the passage of the body and having a first shoulderengaged on said internal shoulder and having threads adapted to besecured in threads of an implant for securing the body to an implant,said screw having a second shoulder and said body having a secondshoulder engageable by said second shoulder of said screw, and a secondscrew received in the first screw for securing an abutment post orcollar to the adaptor body.
 5. An assembly for use in prosthetic implantrestorations in dentistry, the assembly comprising in combination: acrown, an adaptor chosen to be compatible to and receivable on anassociated implant and having a first portion adapted to extend above anassociated implant, a collar to be mounted on the adaptor and having adepth to generally conform to the depth between a jaw bone and gum lineof a particular patient, an abutment post receivable on the collar andreceiving said crown, means for securing the crown to the post, andmeans for securing the adaptor collar and post to an associated implant,and wherein said means for securing the crown to the post, and means forsecuring the adaptor collar and post to an associated implant, andwherein said means for securing said adaptor and collar includes a screwengageable with threads on an associated implant and wherein said posthas a post passage registrable with the passage of the collar, andwherein said adaptor has a passage receiving said screw and said screwis engageable with said adaptor to secure the adaptor relative to anassociated implant, and wherein said screw has a first externalshoulder, and said adaptor has a first shoulder internally about thepassage thereof engageable by the first shoulder of the screw.
 6. Theassembly defined in claim 5 wherein said screw has a second shoulder andsaid adaptor has a second shoulder engageable by said second shoulder ofsaid screw.
 7. The assembly defined in claim 5 wherein said adaptor andcollar having mating polygonal surfaces for adjusting the adaptor andcollar in first angular increments and wherein said abutment post andcollar having mating polygonal surfaces for adjusting the abutment postsand collar in second angular increments different than the angularincrements of adjustment between the adaptor and collar.
 8. An assemblyfor use in prosthetic implant restorations in dentistry, the assemblycomprising in combination: an adaptor chosen to be compatible to andreceivable on an associated implant and having a first portion adaptedto extend above an associated implant, a collar to be mounted on theadaptor and having a depth to generally conform to the depth between ajaw bone and gum line of a particular patient, an abutment postreceivable on the collar and having an external surface dimensioned andshaped to receive a crown or a coping, and means receivable in a passageof the collar for securing the adaptor and collar to an associatedimplant, and wherein said means for securing said adaptor and collarincludes a screw and wherein said adaptor has a passage receiving saidscrew and said screw is engageable with said adaptor to secure theadaptor relative to an associated implant and wherein said screw has afirst external shoulder, and said adaptor has a first shoulder of thescrew and wherein said screw has a second shoulder and said adaptor hasa second shoulder engageable by said second shoulder of said screw. 9.An assembly for use in prosthetic implant restorations in dentistry, theassembly comprising in combination: an adaptor chosen to be compatibleto and receivable on an associated implant and having a first portiondimensioned to extend above an associated implant, a collar to bemounted on the adaptor and having a depth to generally conform to thedepth between a jaw bone and gum line of a particular patient, anabutment post receivable on the collar, and means for securing theadaptor, collar and post to an associated implant, and wherein saidadaptor and collar have mating polygonal surfaces for adjusting theadaptor and collar in first angular increments and wherein said abutmentpost and collar having mating polygonal surfaces for adjusting theabutment post and collar in second angular increments different from theangular increments of adjustment between the adaptor and collar.
 10. Theassembly defined in claim 9 wherein aid first angular increments areeach forty-five degrees (45°) and said second angular increments areeach sixty degrees (60°).
 11. An assembly for use in prosthetic implantrestorations in dentistry, the assembly comprising in combination: anadaptor chosen to be compatible to and receivable on an associatedimplant and having a first portion dimensioned to extend above anassociated implant, a collar to be mounted on the adaptor and having adepth to generally conform to the depth between a jaw bone and gum lineof a patient, an abutment post receivable on the collar for supporting acrown or coping or other piece separate from the abutment post, andmeans for securing the adaptor and collar to an associated implantincluding a first screw receivable through and engageable with theadaptor and having an internal threaded passage, and a second screwengageable in the threaded passage of the first screw for engaging thecollar and securing the collar relative to the adaptor.
 12. An assemblyfor use in prosthetic implant restorations in dentistry, the assemblycomprising in combination: a crown, an adaptor chosen to be compatibleto and receivable on an associated implant and having a first portiondimensioned to extend above an associated implant, a collar to bemounted on the adaptor and having a depth to generally conform to thedepth between a jaw bone and gum line of a particular patient, anabutment post receivable on the collar and receiving said crown, meansfor securing the crown to the post, and means for securing the adaptorcollar and post to an associated implant, and wherein said means forsecuring said adaptor and collar includes a screw and wherein saidadaptor has a passage receiving said screw and said screw in engageablewith said adaptor to secure the adaptor relative to an associatedimplant, and wherein said screw has a first external shoulder, and saidadaptor has a first shoulder internally about the passage thereofengageable by the first shoulder of the screw.
 13. An assembly for usein prosthetic implant restorations in dentistry, the assembly comprisingin combination: a crown, an adaptor chosen to be compatible to andreceivable on an associated implant and having a first portiondimensioned to extend above an associated implant, a collar to bemounted on the adaptor and having a depth to generally conform to thedepth between a jaw bone and gum line of a particular patient, anabutment post receivable on the collar and receiving said crown, meansfor securing the crown to the post, and means for securing the adaptorcollar and post to an associated implant, and wherein said means forsecuring said adaptor and collar includes a screw engageable withthreads on an associated implant and wherein said post has a postpassage registrable with the passage of the collar, and wherein saidscrew has an internal threaded passage and there is further included asecond screw receivable through said passage in said post and into saidthreaded passage of said first screw for engaging and securing thecollar relative to the adaptor.
 14. The assembly defined in claim 13wherein said adaptor has in its lower end a polygonal-shaped recess toreceive and match with a polygonal-shaped projection on an associatedimplant.
 15. An assembly for use in prosthetic implant restorations indentistry, the assembly comprising in combination: a crown, an adaptorchosen to be compatible to and receivable on an associated implant andhaving a first portion dimensioned to extend above an associatedimplant, a collar to be mounted on the adaptor and having a depth togenerally conform to the depth between a jaw bone and gum line of aparticular patient, an abutment post receivable on the collar andreceiving said crown, means for securing the crown to the post, andmeans for securing the adaptor collar and post to an associated implant,and wherein the collar has a shoulder for receiving a portion of afastener means, and wherein said means for securing the adaptor andcollar includes a first screw received through aligned passages in theadaptor and collar wherein said fastener means includes a second screwreceived in said first screw.
 16. The assembly defined in claim 15wherein said post has a passage for receiving said second screw.